Regarding route buses, which are a familiar means of transportation, this fiscal year the government approved 93 applications from bus companies to increase fares, a sharp increase of more than five times the number from last year.
This is due to the fact that bus companies are taking measures to secure the number of drivers ahead of the ``2024 problem'', where regulations on driver working hours will be tightened starting in April and there are concerns about labor shortages. is.
table of contents
Number of approved price increase applications 5.8 times higher than last year
Fewer passengers due to the coronavirus pandemic, rising fuel costs and labor shortages
Tokyu Bus raises prices for the first time in 27 years; number of driver applications halved from 6 years ago
attention
Price increase details by bus company
Driver shortage expected to reach 36,000 in 2030, with more flights being reduced or abolished
Expert: “Give users the opportunity to think together”
Open table of contents
table of contents
table of contents
Number of approved price increase applications 5.8 times higher than last year
Fewer passengers due to the coronavirus pandemic, rising fuel costs and labor shortages
Tokyu Bus raises prices for the first time in 27 years; number of driver applications halved from 6 years ago
attention
Price increase details by bus company
Driver shortage expected to reach 36,000 in 2030, with more flights being reduced or abolished
Expert: “Give users the opportunity to think together”
Number of approved price increase applications 5.8 times higher than last year
Regarding route bus fares, NHK interviewed transportation bureaus across the country that have jurisdiction over bus operations, and found that as of March 12th, the number of applications for price increases submitted by bus companies that had been approved this fiscal year was 93. This was a sharp increase of 5.8 times compared to last year's 16 cases.
By region,
there were 44 cases within the jurisdiction of the Kanto Transport Bureau
, 16 cases within the jurisdiction of the Kyushu Transport Bureau
, and 10 cases
within the jurisdiction of the Kinki Transport Bureau.
There are also six applications currently under review.
Many companies have not changed their route bus fares for more than 20 years, except for the consumption tax hike, but they are raising them all at once this year.
Fewer passengers due to the coronavirus pandemic, rising fuel costs and labor shortages
When we interviewed each company about the reasons for this, we found that
▽A decrease in the number of passengers due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic,
▽Soaring fuel costs, and
▽There are concerns about a labor shortage due to stricter regulations on driver working hours starting in April. It is necessary to secure more people than before in order to respond to the problem, and this will be used to cover personnel costs.
In Tokyo and Kanagawa, Keio Bus is planning to raise fares by 10 yen from the 16th, and Tokyu Bus from March 24th.
Many bus users expressed their understanding of the price increase, saying things like, ``We have no choice because prices are going up,'' and ``If it means raising labor costs, we'd like to support them.'' "If the price is displayed too high, people may not choose it as a means of transportation," one person said.
Tokyu Bus raises prices for the first time in 27 years; number of driver applications halved from 6 years ago
Tokyu Bus, headquartered in Meguro-ku, Tokyo, plans to raise fares for route buses in Tokyo's 23 wards and Yokohama City from March 24th for the first time in 27 years, with adult fares increasing from the current 220 yen to 230 yen. Masu.
The reason behind this is that as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, telework has become established and the number of users has decreased, resulting in an overall decrease in income from commuter passes and other items by about 10% compared to before the coronavirus.
In addition, the price of diesel fuel has increased by nearly 30% in three years, and the need to secure a sufficient number of drivers amid concerns about a labor shortage due to the so-called "2024 problem" starting next month has also had an impact. It means that you are doing it.
At Tokyu Bus, the number of applicants for bus drivers has decreased to about half of what it was six years ago, and competition for human resources is fierce, meaning that there is a need to improve compensation.
The company has reviewed the late-night bus service that runs after the last train, and has decided to abolish some routes starting in April.
In addition, starting in April, we will gradually introduce articulated buses that connect two vehicles on routes that have many users connecting universities and stations, increasing the number of passengers that can be carried at once and aiming for efficient transportation. .
Daisuke Harayama, Manager, Management Group, Tokyu Bus Planning Department
: ``Many factors have hit bus operators all at once, and they have lost their strength all at once. We hope for your understanding as we aim to create a bus that is easy to use."
attention
Price increase details by bus company
Details of bus companies that have raised their prices during this fiscal year or are planning to do so in the future.
In Tokyo, adult fares
for Keio Bus
and Tokyu Bus
will be revised from 220 yen to 230 yen from March 16th and 24th March, respectively.
In addition,
▽"Odakyu Bus" will raise the fare from 220 yen to 240 yen from June 1st.
▽The Nishitetsu Bus Group, which has the largest fleet of buses in Japan, will be charging 210 yen for the first ride in the Fukuoka and Kitakyushu areas from January 20th of this year.
▽Hankyu Bus, which runs in Kansai, will be charging 210 yen starting from January 20th last year. From October 1st, fares in the Osaka and Hyogo areas range from 10 yen to 60 yen depending on the distance;
Meitetsu Bus, headquartered in Nagoya, charges 20 yen to 40 yen from October 1st last year on many sections in Aichi and Gifu. , are increasing their prices.
In addition, bus companies across the country are increasing fares this year.
Driver shortage expected to reach 36,000 in 2030, with more flights being reduced or abolished
We asked industry groups about the driver shortage that is behind the increase in bus fares.
A year ago, the Japan Bus Association conducted a survey of its member bus companies across the country and estimated future prospects based on the responses from 788 companies.
According to this, 129,000 drivers will be needed nationwide in fiscal 2024, but it is estimated that 108,000 drivers will actually be able to work, resulting in a shortage of 21,000.
The shortage of drivers has continued since then, and by 2030, 129,000 drivers will be needed nationwide, but the number of drivers who can actually work will decrease to 93,000, leaving a shortage of 36,000 drivers. As the number of passengers is expected to increase, the Japan Bus Association says it is necessary to revise fares in order to secure human resources.
The association is urging the government to take measures to secure drivers, but the situation continues to be difficult, and if the driver shortage continues, it is predicted that more route bus services will be reduced or abolished. is shown.
Expert: “Give users the opportunity to think together”
Toshiki Nishiyama, an associate professor at Tokyo City University who is familiar with measures to revitalize bus routes, points out that ``fares for route buses are set lower than for other forms of transportation such as trains, so a price increase is unavoidable.''
In particular, Associate Professor Nishiyama points out that among the tightening of regulations on working hours from next month, which is said to be the ``2024 problem,'' changes to ``rest time'' to reform work styles for the bus industry are having an impact on successive price increases. To do.
Currently, there is an 8-hour gap between the end of a shift and the start of the next shift, but from April, in principle, an 11-hour gap will be required between the end of the day and the start of the next shift, so separate drivers will be assigned for the morning and evening hours, when there are many customers. This will result in an increase in labor costs.
Another factor behind this is the cost of updating bus vehicles and equipment to make them easier for elderly and disabled people to use.
In addition, Associate Professor Nishiyama said, ``Bus companies will not be able to convince users unless they make an effort to disclose information such as why they are increasing the price and what it will be used for, rather than just announcing a price increase. We need to create opportunities for users to think together in order to prevent flight reductions and route closures."